8 ways to find the serial number, model name, part number, and launch year of your Mac

This tutorial shows you various ways to get the unique serial number of your Mac, along with its model name and the year it was launched.

iMac showing System Settings with Mac's serial number and model

The methods here apply to all Apple computers and notebooks such as Mac Pro, Mac mini, Mac Studio, iMac, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.

When you may use these

Serial number:

  • Helps identify your computer
  • May be needed while getting chat, phone, or in-store support from Apple
  • Can be used to verify a Mac’s authenticity

Model name and launch year:

  • Can be used to check feature and accessory compatibility

8 ways to find the serial number, model, and year of your Mac

The first five methods below work if your Mac is with you, and the remaining ones are applicable even if your machine is lost, stolen, or not powering on.

1. Use About This Mac

  1. Power on your Mac.
  2. Click the Apple icon  from the top left and choose About This Mac.
  3. You’ll see your Mac’s model name and year at the top, followed by other details like the chip/processor, RAM size, serial number, and the currently installed macOS version.
Use About This Mac to find its serial number and model

2. In System Settings

  1. Click the Apple icon  and choose System Settings on macOS Ventura and later.
  2. Go to General > About.
  3. Here, you’ll see your Mac’s model name, launch year, serial number, and other important details like warranty status, screen display resolutions, available internal storage, and more.
About your Mac in General System Settings

3. In System Information

  1. While holding the option key, click the Apple icon  and choose System Information.
  2. Click Hardware from the left sidebar.
  3. This screen will show your Mac’s model name, model identifier, model number (part number), serial number, and several other details.
  4. Tip: Press Command + 4 or click File > Speak Serial Number, and your Mac will announce its serial number.
Mac System Information showing Hardware Overview

Note: On Mac’s original cardboard box, Part No. (like MMFJ3**/A) and Model No (like A2686) are mentioned separately as different things. However, in System Information or Terminal, the Model Number field shows the same number (MMFJ3**/A), which is listed as the Part Number on that Mac’s box. The box also shows SKU (stock keeping unit) (MMFJ3**/A), which is the same as the Model Number shown in System Information or Terminal.

4. Use Terminal

  1. Open Terminal on your Mac.
  2. Type or copy & paste system_profiler SPHardwareDataType into Terminal and hit the enter/return key.
  3. It will show your Mac’s model name and serial number, along with some other useful information like model number/part number.
Mac Terminal showing serial number, model, and other hardware information

5. Look on the Mac itself

The serial number is printed on your Mac computers. For example, I can see it at the bottom of my MacBook and Mac mini.

6. On Apple’s website

  1. Visit appleid.apple.com and sign in using your Apple ID and its correct password.
  2. Select Devices and click your Mac’s name.
  3. You’ll see your Mac’s model name and serial number mentioned here.
All your Apple devices on Apple ID website

7. Use your other Apple device

  1. On iPhone or iPad: Open Settings > your name from the top > scroll down and select your Mac.
  2. On your other Mac: Open System Settings > your Apple ID from the top > select your Mac under Devices.
  3. You’ll see the product name, serial number, and currently installed software version here.
See Mac serial number and details on your iPhone

8. On your Mac’s box

If you have your Mac’s original packaging, grab it and look on its rear or the sides. You will find the model name, chip, RAM, internal storage, part number, model number, and serial number printed here.

Part number, serial number, and model number visible on Mac's original box

Use your Mac serial number to figure out the model

  1. Copy your Mac’s serial number using any of the methods mentioned above.
  2. Next, visit Apple’s official Check Coverage or Tech Specs page and enter your serial number here to find your Mac and know more about it.

Use the model number/part number to learn more about your Mac

Once you have your Mac’s model number or part number (like MMFJ3**/A), visit one of these appropriate official sites and match the model/part number to identify your computer:

How to know when your Mac was manufactured

Look at the sticker on your Mac’s original box to find out the precise month and year it was manufactured (not launched), as well as the country of origin and the country of import.

Month and year of manufacture of Mac mentioned on its original cardboard box

Find the serial number of your: